Winter fuel additive

[thatguy]

Howse makes an excellent product.

In some 'study' (not sure how scientific) the Howes got better reviews than the Power Service (white bottle) for anti-gel protection..

FYI - Power Service comes in at least three different bottles White, Silver, and Red (which is an emergency solution to unthawing already gelled fuel).. I always used the white bottle as my anti-gel until i switched to the howes..

Northern Tool, Pilot Truck Stops and a few other T/S carry the Howes

Brian

 

[DEWFPO]

I've been using the White Power Service for years and have never had any fuel related issues.

DEWPO

 

[coobie]

Schaeffer's Diesel Treat 2000 Winter Premium is an exceptional product. An on-line study can be found at dieselplace.com. The Schaeffer additive tested is the winter blend.

++1 on the schaeffers diesel treat.Great product IMHO.coobie

 

[Marine3523]

Living in Minnesota (straight west of Duluth) and I use Schaeffer Diesel Treat 137ULSW. Besides winter protection, you get lube, extra cetane, sits on water; just read the can.
I do a 50/50 blend and 1 oz of Schaeffer (my fuel barrel is a 5 gallon can) and a sample was sent in for cold weather testing; the CFPP came in at -51 degrees ... I have never gelled up.
I also use a block heater and I used to have a battery blanket, but it died ... I like a battery blanket. Heat is good, at -20 below, if I plug the tractor in for a couple of hours; the tractor will start right up on the first glow plug cycle.
I use the winter fuel additive year around, I don't go through a lot of fuel, so a pint can goes a long way for my at home wood hauler / snow fighting tractor.
Right now, I am dragging my feet on when I purchase more fuel; I will first add in a couple of gallons #1 and going into winter, then I do the 50/50 blend plus the additive, by early December, I will be into a 50/50 blend and the additive.
I need to change the fuel filter .... to easy to over look the fuel filter and per a dealer that sells small compact tractors to hobby farms; the biggest problem that their shop sees is dirty fuel filters.
The tractor is a 3 cylinder Mitz ... a grey market tractor.

 

[flyingcow]

I put just about 100 to 150 hours on my tractor. I service it every fall, always change the fuel filter.

 

[jimpen]

I'm going to add in a totally stupid question. I live in SW Ohio. This is my first year with a diesel tractor. In general we never get below 0 degrees with limited exceptions (late Jan/early Feb if that).

I'm doing diesel in five gallon containers. So my questions:

Being mid-November -- are most diesels stations in the area selling the winter anti-gel grade?

Is there an issue if I add anti-gel stuff to diesel that is already an anti-gel diesel; will it mess anything up?

 

[Marine3523]

I live in MN, the center of the state, by Christmas; I look for -30 below aka we get cold. Right now, I am going to put in some #1 and additive ... but can you get #1?
Even if you use straight number 1 dsl; the additive will add lube & cetane, sit on water.
If your fuel is a winter blend and already treated with a winter fuel additive, you will not harm your tractor or fuel by putting in more. The fuel testing that I have seen, double treating the fuel will not get / buy you much more cold temp protection; but you will get extra cetane and lube.
I also buy my dsl fuel in a 5 gallon can and if your temps are correct, then I would go with straight #2 with a fuel additive, I use one ounce of Schaeffer in my 5 gallon jug and that will push your dsl fuel down to a -30 below cold filter plug point.
By mid December; I will be using a 50/50 blend and the additive.

Fuel filter ... change it once a year, in the fall.

 

[MHarryE]

I'm going to add in a totally stupid question. I live in SW Ohio. This is my first year with a diesel tractor. In general we never get below 0 degrees with limited exceptions (late Jan/early Feb if that). I'm doing diesel in five gallon containers. So my questions: Being mid-November -- are most diesels stations in the area selling the winter anti-gel grade? Is there an issue if I add anti-gel stuff to diesel that is already an anti-gel diesel; will it mess anything up?

I live in Northern MN. Our supplier starts delivering #1 in late October. We use that in the tractor that does most of the farm chores. The other tractor we use in winter gets fuel from a station in town on which they label the pumps in mid-October when they start using a cold flow additive in addition to regular #2 diesel. I have checked all 3 stations in town that sell on-highway diesel and they have #2 plus cold flow additive stickers on the pump. However we had a guy come up from Central IL and his diesel pickup wouldn't start on a cold morning. It got warm enough during the day to start and he filled with local diesel and no longer had any problem for the 2 weeks he stayed. We don't like to run the winter diesel any longer than needed because fuel economy gets very bad with #1, or even a #1/#2 50/50 blend. That is what our distributor said as to why they quit selling the blend and instead changed to a cold flow additive. Sell less fuel but no customer complaints about poor fuel.

 

[Marine3523]

#1 dsl, has less BTI than #2 and there goes the mpg.
When I ran my F350 Ford with dsl engine; I ran #2 and Schaeffer winter fuel additve. If the temp went below 0, I would start putting in #1 ... 80/20 or 70/30. One day in Ely,MN; it was midafternoon and -45, and I dumped in all the #1 I could with the fuel additive, then I found a hotel room and plugged in. In the morning it was -55 and she popped right off. After she warmed up, I went to International Falls ... it had warmed up to -20, a heat wave. The morning in Ely, a truck from the Twin Cities, with metro fuel; he was gelled up. In the metro, no number 1.
I travel in NE MN on business, were are you at? I live at Deerwood, just west of Aitkin.

 

[jimpen]

I have a Mahindra Max25 SCUT. Most of my winter use is going to be clearing my driveway with the FEL, and maybe neighbors.

My hourage is about 3 hrs/gallon.

So if I grab the diesel now I should probably good for the winter.